You’ve likely seen paper money from all over the planet. Maybe you have an aunt living in Australia that sends you dollars in the mail every year for your birthday or perhaps on your commute to work each day you pass by a currency exchange kiosk- you know the type: colorful bills from all over the world decorating the walls.
But how well do you know the faces of world currencies? Is it the King or Queen on the face of the Swedish Krona or neither? Which former US President is found on the five dollar bill?
Take this fun test and discover some pretty cool facts about paper money faces.
When the next episode of STAR TREK CONTINUESis revealed, science fiction fans will see a familiar face in a guest star role. The new episode, titled Still Treads the Shadow, features guest star Rekha Sharma, perhaps best known to science fiction fans for her role in more than 30 episodes of Battlestar Galactica. While details of Sharma’s character in STAR TREK CONTINUES are being kept under wraps until April, she says the offer for a role came after meeting Vic “Kirk” Mignogna at FedCon Germany last year during the 50th Anniversary of STAR TREK event.
“Vic and I kept in touch after FedCon, and then he asked if I’d be interested in coming aboard STAR TREK CONTINUES. He told me about a script that was in development and the character he had in mind. I’m so delighted that it worked with my schedule,” Sharma says. Sharma’s first introduction to the original STAR TREK series came from her big brother. “All my friends were watching Full House or something. I’m not sure! And there I was, coming home after school and watching the original STAR TREK and old Perry Mason reruns! I remember my brother told me that there were people opening and closing the doors, which I thought it was so cool and cheesy. And it very much appealed to my dreams of utopia — especially as a young colored girl growing up in very white neighborhoods,” says Sharma. Rekha’s character of Tory Foster in the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, which began in 2004, developed after several auditions. “From the very first audition, I was immediately struck by the intelligence, artistry and kind-heartedness of the directors and producers. I thought, I’d really like to work with these people! First I went in for the role of a Viper pilot, then a captain, and then the role of Tory came along. Oh yeah, I thought, this is a perfect part for me.” Galactica’s producers apparently agreed. “Working on Battlestar Galactica was a dream come true. From my previous experience, I honestly didn’t think I could be creatively satisfied working in TV. But Battlestar Galactica changed that. Not only was it creatively satisfying, but we also had such a great team of people. We are all like family to this day,” Sharma explains
What does it mean to be a STAR TREK CONTINUES guest star? “It means I have fulfilled a dream, in a way, and that I’ve come full circle. I loved those stories. They had a wonderful morality and vision for humanity that made my heart sing. And then I got to step onto those sets and step into my childhood and be a part of telling that kind of story. Not only that, but that world was so fun! I loved those neat-o futuristic gadgets when I was a kid. And now, as an adult, I got to play with them. I got to sit on the bridge. There weren’t any trailers, so when I needed to rest between scenes, I took naps in sickbay on board the Enterprise. And I got beamed in the transporter! I can’t wait to see that,” she says enthusiastically. The experience of working on the STAR TREK CONTINUES set “was so refreshing,” Sharma says. “Everyone is there for love, not money. It felt like Battlestar Galactica that way. Although it’s a fan run project, the STAR TREK CONTINUES sets were surprisingly professional and very impressive. It was a mix of TV veterans and total newbies, and that made for an awesome atmosphere to work in. It was the best of both worlds, really.” Sharma likes to compare the character she’s playing in Episode 8 to be much like aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. “She is smart as a whip, very technically inclined, and brave. I thought of her as a bright light of goodness and intelligence with a big heart.” She admits to being very surprised at what the cast and crew have created with STAR TREK CONTINUES. “You know, Vic told me that I’d become part of the family, but I had no idea what he meant. They have chosen a team who are all friendly, diligent, thoughtful and good-hearted people. I felt so welcomed and incredibly lucky. It makes sense that they’re shooting in the south – they’re so hospitable! And those sets! Again, Vic told me what they built, but until you’re there you just can’t conceive of it. It’s really impressive. I know I’m not the only one who was moved to tears,” Sharma says. Fans will be able to see Rekha Sharma at future conventions and events. “It’s funny. At first it felt so strange to do conventions, but as time has gone on I’ve really come to appreciate them. It’s special to have the opportunity to meet the fans and discuss the themes of these shows. You get to connect with people that you’d never get to meet otherwise. And sci-fi fans are awesome because, generally speaking, they still have dreams. They’re not jaded. They believe in possibility. And without that, nothing would ever change for the better. We’ve got to hold on to our dreams and keep being warriors in this world – to truly go where no man has gone before.” “Still Treads the Shadow” will premiere at Fan Expo Dallas on April 1 at the Dallas Convention Center.
How are you getting around the guidelines for fan films? As CBS/Paramount has made clear, the guidelines are not laws; they are general parameters applied on a case-by-case basis. Since the implementation of the guidelines, we have stopped all crowdfunding activities and have focused strictly on completing the four episodes which had already been funded as of that time by fans’ donations to our 501(c)(3) non-profit. STAR TREK CONTINUES has always followed any and all instructions given to us by CBS regarding our production, and will continue to do so. Does STAR TREK CONTINUES have any type of special and/or official arrangement with CBS/Paramount? No.
How long are the episodes? They will be exactly the same format as our previous episodes Why are you ending the series? Recent developments necessitated our finishing up sooner than we intended, but it was always our goal to bring The Original Series to a conclusion. With our final four episodes, we will have done that. It’s been an amazing five years creating this series, and we will miss making it. But all good things… Weren’t you going to make 13 episodes? Did CBS make you stop? CBS is not responsible for the decision to end the series. We are doing 11 episodes instead of 13 because another fan group took advantage of the good graces of the copyright holders forcing them to protect their property and the interests of their license holders. In deference and gratitude to CBS, we are wrapping up earlier than planned. We always have stood, and continue to stand, with CBS. Can we get DVDs/Blu-ray discs of the final episodes? As we do not own STAR TREK, we cannot sell DVDs or Blu-ray discs. In the past, we’ve made a limited number of discs available as crowdfunding perks. However, since we are no longer crowdfunding, providing episodes to the public on DVD and/or Blu-ray discs is not currently feasible for us. What will happen to the studio/sets? Will set visits/tours be available? We don’t have a definitive answer on this right now, but we’re considering all our options.
The finishing touches are now being applied to the sixth episode produced by the fans behind Star Trek Continues, and we look forward to a debut screening in May at MegaCon in Orlando. This week, we’re launching another crowdfunding campaign to produce more episodes, which will bring to 10 the number of episodes in our web series. Support us here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/star-trek-continues#/ Episode VI — “Come Not Between the Dragons” — is an action-packed, dramatic story that deals with deeply personal issues. It guest stars Gigi Edgley of Farscape fame. And Episode VII — featuring the return of Erin Gray and other surprise guest stars — will, with the help of this campaign, be released in the fall.
Vic Mignogna as Kirk.
Between free viewings on Vimeo and YouTube, our five finished episodes have had more than four million views! And we’re pleased to be recognized with nearly a dozen accolades and awards, and even recognition from The Wall Street Journal, which calls Star Trek Continues “the flagship of the fan film fleet.” First and foremost, Star Trek Continues respectfully and graciously thanks CBS, the holder of the copyright to Star Trek. CBS’ understanding of the passion fans have for Star Trek is second-to-none, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to pay tribute with our fan-based non-profit web series.
We are in no way affiliated with, nor endorsed by, CBS or Paramount Pictures. This latest campaign is already off to a strong start. And it’s the third time we’ve appealed for support in this way. Late in 2013, our first effort raised enough money to produce episodes 2,3, and 4. Last January, we launched a second crowdfunding campaign to continue our journey and produce two more episodes and build the enormous Engineering set. And that’s precisely what we did. STC’s track record speaks for itself. As deeply committed stewards of our precious fans’ donations, we do what we promise we will do. So many of our previous donors tell us they can’t wait to support us again. One needs only watch an episode to see these generous donations at work. We seek no return other than the joy of paying tribute to TOS — both in the creation of these episodes, and in the privilege of sharing them with beloved fans. All money raised goes to hard costs related to the development, filming, and post-production of these stories, such as:
Set construction, maintenance and materials
Studio rental and maintenance
Monthly utilities costs
Equipment rental
Prop production and replication
Wardrobe production and maintenance
Make-up equipment and supplies
Cast and crew travel, lodging, and food during the shoots
Post-production costs, hard drives, online data storage, etc.
Fundraising costs.
So if you believe in what we’re doing and you’d like to help, now is the time to donate to keep a good thing going.And we’ve got an exciting array of perks for contributors – including a selection of screen-used costumes.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/star-trek-continues#/Find STC on Instagram! We are very pleased to announce that now you can follow Star Trek Continues on Instagram! We will be posting never before seen production stills, behind the scenes photos, crew features, concept art from our designers, and more! You can find us there @trekcontinues, and also on Tumblr at stcontinues. Thank you so much for all of your support and enthusiasm. Please continue to follow, like, share, and tell your friends! https://www.instagram.com/trekcontinues/http://stcontinues.tumblr.com/
Trek Prop Fans Relish a Visit to Stage Nine One of the ingredients that makes Star Trek Continues look authentic is attention to detail, and in particular the sets and props designed to look like they came from the soundstages in the 1960’s. The production relies on the skills of dedicated propmakers and fans who donate use of their treasures for our episodes. In December, prop collectors got a chance to tour the Enterprise – including the new Engineering Room – during a private visit to Stage Nine in southern Georgia.
Space.com staff artist Karl Tate came down from New York. His reaction to walking standing sets was typical. “I’ve been aboard the USS Enterprise. That’s all I can say. When you’re walking down that corridor, and the stage lights are lit, and all you see is Enterprise…I’m there,” Tate says. “It’s truly an achievement and I look forward to what Star Trek Continues comes up with next!” The one-day event was filled with special presentations on prop-making, and an opportunity for prop fans to show off their collections and hand-made treasures.
“Many of us have bucket lists, things we want to complete or do in this lifetime. I’ve had such a list since I was a kid. One of the items on my list, one I never thought possible, was to go back in time and see the Star Trek sets at Desilu Studios. Impossible, right? Well, after visiting the Star TrekContinues sets I was able to cross one more item off my bucket list,” explains Larry Chalkey from Virginia. “As I walked the corridors of the Enterprise, I imagined what it must have been like to be there in 1966. What it must have felt like to make the show we all love. This was truly an amazing experience and one I will always treasure.” By Vic Mignogna for The Silo.
Ontario will be the first province to set specific standards of care for marine mammals
Ontario is moving ahead with enhanced standards of care for marine mammals – such as dolphins, belugas and walruses – to ensure both greater protection and improved treatment.
These new standards of care, reflecting advice from an expert report by University of British Columbia marine biologist Dr. David Rosen, will be among the best in the world.
New standards would be developed in a number of areas including:
The size of pools used to house marine mammals
Environmental considerations such as bacteria content, noise and lighting
Appropriate social groupings
Regulations for the handling and display of marine mammals
The government will establish a technical advisory group composed of veterinarians, animal welfare groups, industry, and enforcement partners to provide advice on the final standards and timing of their implementation. This group will report back with their findings within six months.
The government will also be moving forward with legislation to prohibit the future breeding and acquisition of orcas (killer whales) and establish Animal Welfare Committees at every facility with marine mammals. These committees will provide both oversight and access to additional protections such as veterinarians with expertise in marine mammals.
John Lennon “Walrus advocate”
“Our government is moving forward with stronger protections for marine mammals to ensure these unique animals receive the best possible treatment and care. This is something that Ontarians expect and these animals deserve. These higher standards of care, along with prohibiting any future breeding or acquisition of orcas in Ontario, are both the right thing to do and builds on our government’s ongoing efforts to have the strongest animal protection laws in Canada.”
Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
QUICK FACTS
Ontario will be the first province to set specific standards of care for marine mammals.
Ontario has the toughest animal protection laws in Canada.
There are over 60 zoos and aquariums in Ontario — more than any other province.
Ontario provides the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) with $5.5 million annually to strengthen the protection of animals.
L’Ontario renforce la protection des mammifères marins
La province prend des mesures pour mieux protéger les mammifères marins et interdire l’acquisition et la reproduction en captivité des épaulards
L’Ontario va de l’avant avec des normes de soins améliorées pour les mammifères marins – dont les dauphins, les bélugas et les morses – afin d’assurer à ces animaux à la fois une plus grande protection et un meilleur traitement.
Ces nouvelles normes de soins, fondées sur les recommandations d’un rapport d’expert rédigé par David Rosen, un biologiste respecté spécialisé en vie marine de l’Université de Colombie-Britannique, seront parmi les plus rigoureuses au monde De nouvelles normes seront ainsi élaborées sur divers sujets, dont les suivants :
Taille des bassins utilisés pour garder les mammifères marins;
Facteurs environnementaux, comme la teneur en bactéries, le bruit et l’éclairage;
Groupements sociaux appropriés;
Règlements relatifs à la manipulation et à l’exposition des mammifères marins
Le gouvernement mettra en place un groupe consultatif technique, composé de vétérinaires ainsi que de représentants de groupes de protection des animaux, de l’industrie et de partenaires de l’application de la loi, pour fournir des conseils sur les normes définitives et sur le calendrier de leur mise en œuvre. Ce groupe communiquera ses conclusions dans un délai de six mois.
Le gouvernement ira aussi de l’avant avec une nouvelle législation pour interdire la reproduction en captivité et l’acquisition de ces animaux à l’avenir et pour établir des comités pour la protection des animaux dans tous les établissements où se trouvent des mammifères marins.
Ces comités seront chargés de la supervision et fourniront des protections additionnelles, dont l’accès à des vétérinaires spécialisés dans les mammifères marins.
CITATIONS
« Notre gouvernement va de l’avant en renforçant la protection des mammifères marins afin que ces animaux uniques reçoivent les meilleurs soins et traitements possibles. C’est ce à quoi s’attendent les Ontariens et aussi ce que ces animaux méritent. Ces normes de soins plus rigoureuses et l’interdiction d’acquérir et de reproduire en captivité des épaulards à l’avenir en Ontario sont des mesures appropriées qui s’inscrivent dans le cadre des efforts continus de notre gouvernement visant à doter l’Ontario des lois les plus rigoureuses du Canada pour la protection des animaux. »
Yasir Naqvi, ministre de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services correctionnels
FAITS EN BREF
L’Ontario possède la législation la plus rigoureuse du Canada pour la protection des animaux.
Il y a plus de 60 zoos et aquariums en Ontario — plus que dans toute autre province du Canada.
La province accorde à la Société de protection des animaux de l’Ontario une subvention de 5,5 millions de dollars par an pour renforcer la protection des animaux.
POUR EN SAVOIR DAVANTAGE
Renseignez-vous sur le travail de la SPAO (en anglais seulement)
Lisez le Rapport de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique sur les normes de soins pour les mammifères marins en captivité
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/star-trek-continues#/
Space.com staff artist Karl Tate came down from New York. His reaction to walking standing sets was typical. “I’ve been aboard the USS Enterprise. That’s all I can say. When you’re walking down that corridor, and the stage lights are lit, and all you see is Enterprise…I’m there,” Tate says. “It’s truly an achievement and I look forward to what Star Trek Continues comes up with next!” The one-day event was filled with special presentations on prop-making, and an opportunity for prop fans to show off their collections and hand-made treasures.
